Virgil's Real BBQ Happy Hour. The Strip

Virgil's suits a mid-week sit-down: a couple resting tired feet after shopping, a small group that wants actual plates instead of bar snacks, or anyone craving smoke and bourbon without leaving the Planet Hollywood area. It is Southern-style barbecue dressed into a Strip setting at the LINQ Promenade, comfortable and a notch calmer than the rowdier spots around it.

Happy hour, billed as Howdy Hour, runs Monday through Thursday, 2 to 5pm, at the bar. Draft beer is $6 across PBR, Virgil's Ale and IPA, Coors Light, and Modelo, with a $30 bucket of five if you are with a group. Wine is $8, and cocktails run $7 to $9, from the Virgil's margarita and frozen strawberry marg up to the pina colada and cosmo. Snacks are $9 each: fried mac and cheese, queso, BBQ tacos, deviled eggs, popcorn shrimp.

Whiskey is the thing to order here. The bourbon selection is deep, and the bartenders turn out a proper Old Fashioned, so a cocktail is the smarter pick than a basic mixed drink. If you are eating, the burnt ends and pulled pork are the consistent choices, and the mac and cheese is the side worth the calories.

Note the weekday-only window: Friday through Sunday visitors miss the deal entirely. It is an easy walk from anywhere in the Miracle Mile, with Planet Hollywood's garage nearby. Find it at 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd.